Seimas extended national sanctions imposed on Russian and Belarusian nationals

Seimas extended national sanctions imposed on Russian and Belarusian nationals

Press release, 23 April 2026 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Imposing Restrictive Measures Regarding the Military Aggression Against Ukraine, extending the national sanctions currently imposed on Russian and Belarusian nationals until 31 December 2027.

The amendments to the Law (draft No XVP-1171(2)) were adopted by 95 votes in favour, with 1 vote against and 6 abstentions.

Until now, the specific restrictive measures applied to Russian and Belarusian nationals as well as restrictions on certain goods and services in Lithuania had been set to remain in force until 2 May 2026.

'The reasons for the adoption of the Law, namely the ongoing military aggression against Ukraine by Russia and its accomplice Belarus, have not disappeared. Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022, perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity and forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes and their country. Russia continues shelling cities and conducting attacks against civilians and Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. At the instruction of, or with the knowledge of, the Russian and Belarusian authorities, favourable conditions are being created for the conduct of hybrid attacks and various forms of provocation against the Republic of Lithuania. Russia continues to openly and intensively issue threats against states supporting Ukraine, disparaging their independence, territorial integrity, cherished values, history, and even denying their very existence. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have a significant negative impact not only on the security of EU Member States and NATO countries, but also on the security of Europe as a whole,' the explanatory note reads.

The adopted amendments aim to introduce an additional ban on the import of fuel into Lithuania from Russia and Belarus in standard vehicle fuel tanks where the amount of fuel exceeds 200 litres. This will prevent potential violations of EU sanctions and indirect support for the Russian and Belarusian regimes, which occurs when fuel from standard fuel tanks of road freight vehicles registered in third countries and arriving from Russia and Belarus is siphoned off and sold in Lithuania.

According to the authors of the amendments, if a vehicle's tank contains a larger quantity of fuel, this ban would make it possible to impose liability under the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences or the Law on International Sanctions for violations of international sanctions.

Currently, the Law on Imposing Restrictive Measures Regarding the Military Aggression Against Ukraine suspends the acceptance of Schengen visa applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals, except where this is mediated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. The acceptance of applications of Russian nationals for the issue of temporary residence permits in the Republic of Lithuania is also suspended, unless they hold a valid Schengen or national visa, or a residence permit in Lithuania, or a residence permit issued by another EU Member State.

Russian nationals crossing the external border of the EU into the territory of Lithuania are subject to an additional detailed individual screening for any threat their entry may pose to Lithuania's national security, public policy, public order, internal security, public health or international relations. In cases of Belarusian nationals crossing the EU external border into the territory of Lithuania, an additional risk assessment is carried out to determine a potential threat their entry may pose to the public order, internal security, public health or international relations of any country in the Schengen area, followed by a decision on whether to conduct a second-line check as provided for in the Schengen Borders Code.

The Seimas has already imposed a ban on imports of agricultural products and animal feed of Russian and Belarusian origin into Lithuania. Furthermore, Russians with no residence permits in Lithuania are prohibited from purchasing real estate in the country.

Rimas Rudaitis,

Adviser, Press Office,

Information and Communication Department

Tel. (0 5) 209 6132, e-mail: [email protected]